Matty Stevens grabbed the game’s only goal as League Two leaders Forest Green ended their seven-match winless run with victory at Colchester.
Colchester, sporting yellow and blue to help raise money for the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, went close early on when Noah Chilvers’ fierce low shot was parried by Rovers goalkeeper Luke McGee.
But Shamal George denied Stevens and Jack Aitchison’s 20-yard blast clattered the hosts’ crossbar before the visitors took a ninth-minute lead when Stevens stooped to head in Daniel Sweeney’s delivery.
U’s keeper George made a smart save to foil Jamille Matt from close range soon after and then raced out to thwart Ebou Adams.
George also kept out another powerful strike from Aitchison before half-time but the second half was a more even affair, with much of it played out in midfield.
Colchester substitute Junior Tchamadeu’s excellent low effort struck the near post with seven minutes to go but the home side could not muster an equaliser.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Colchester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 29George
- 27CoxeBooked at 65mins
- 4Chambers
- 18Eastman
- 17Kenlock
- 8Skuse
- 6Sarpong-WireduSubstituted forThomasat 85′minutes
- 14Chilvers
- 11Sears
- 46WrightSubstituted forTchamadeuat 80′minutes
- 24AkindeSubstituted forAndrewsat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Welch-Hayes
- 15Dallison-Lisbon
- 16Andrews
- 21Kennedy
- 22Tchamadeu
- 23Hornby
- 31Thomas
Forest Green
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1McGee
- 4Sweeney
- 15Moore-Taylor
- 6Cargill
- 2Wilson
- 7Stevenson
- 8Adams
- 11Cadden
- 10Aitchison
- 14Matt
- 9StevensSubstituted forMarchat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Allen
- 18Young
- 21Hendry
- 23Diallo
- 24Thomas
- 25McAteer
- 28March
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 6,140
Live Text
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Match ends, Colchester United 0, Forest Green Rovers 1.
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Second Half ends, Colchester United 0, Forest Green Rovers 1.
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Jack Aitchison (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cameron Coxe (Colchester United).
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Hand ball by Josh March (Forest Green Rovers).
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Ben Stevenson (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Donnell Thomas (Colchester United).
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Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Dan Sweeney.
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Substitution, Forest Green Rovers. Josh March replaces Matt Stevens.
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Substitution, Colchester United. Donnell Thomas replaces Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu.
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Corner, Forest Green Rovers. Conceded by Thomas Eastman.
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Attempt blocked. Corie Andrews (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Junior Tchamadeu.
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Junior Tchamadeu (Colchester United) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Noah Chilvers.
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Substitution, Colchester United. Junior Tchamadeu replaces Tyreik Wright.
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Foul by Jamille Matt (Forest Green Rovers).
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Luke Chambers (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Jack Aitchison (Forest Green Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cole Skuse (Colchester United).
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Foul by Kane Wilson (Forest Green Rovers).
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Myles Kenlock (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
